Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 May 2018
42. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the required review of the disadvantaged youth employment initiative has been carried out; if so, if he will provide a copy of same; the allocation of funding and the amount of underspend in relation to the scheme in 2016 and 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19007/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Disadvantaged Youth Employment Initiative was included in the 2016 and 2017 Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plans. Funding allocated in respect of the measure included in the 2016 Action Plan was €1.25m, however no expenditure was incurred. No funding was allocated in respect of the measure included in the 2017 Action Plan. These initiatives were not rolled out as planned as it was considered necessary to review the original proposals in the context of both the new Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) and existing Youth Employment Initiatives.
My Department is currently represented on a Working Group chaired by the Youth Affairs Unit of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs which is examining the development and design of a Youth Employment Initiative to be administered by that Department.
I understand that the work of this Group will focus on identifying gaps in provision; identifying existing initiatives; identifying potential areas for duplication of effort and identifying the particular added value that a Youth Sector led initiative can bring to bear. I have been advised that the work of the group will take account of the report of the Centre for Effective Services on the Department of Children and Youth Affairs Youth Employment initiative 2016.
In the circumstances, my Department does not propose to introduce a similar programme at this point in time. The Dormant Accounts Action Plan for 2018 which is currently in preparation, will include a range of new funding proposals, including proposals for youth programmes.
